USA > Illinois > Ford County > Historical Atlas of Ford County Illinois > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
*Chinese. 105,465. Indians, 66,407.
Nevada
17.941,030
11,350,429
1,024,523
19,937,118
848.502
Tin, other manufactures of
70,855
2.743.699
112,348
Totals, White and Colored.
Oregon.
32,584,966
Wine, in casks ..
3,939.278
1880.
Per cent. incre
California
466,273,585
118,304,451
16.755,688
8.320,968
10,995,631
1870
Total
4.202,062,927
1,452,407,897
194,827,199
Wood, manufactures of
Wool, unmanufactured.
9,703.968
Wool, manufactures of.
31,156,426
10,949.331
44.274,952
White.
33,589,377
43,402,970
Total value of merchandise
642,664,628
783,180,914
Colored.
4,880,000
6,580,798
218
OCCUPATIONS.
Confectionery .....
RATES OF DUTY .- Continued.
1664
1584
Number of Persons Engaged of Both Sexes, 1880.
Cotton cloth, dyed or printed ...
50 per cent
Professional Manufactures
Cotton cloth, not blesobed, dred or printed.
.ikc to do per yd.
Trade and
So to to per yd.
Mechanics
Transporta-
Cotton lace, embroideries and insertingi
10 per cent.
Nov
Nov
Nov
NOT.
NOV ..
NOV
NOV
Agriculture,
Nov
NOV
and Personal
5 to 40 per cent
Apr
Nov.
Nov
States and Territories.
ORUst
Nov
Services.
and Mining.
Cotton stockings, bose and half bose
.Nov
L. Nov. ... INH
1. Nov
M. NOV
M. NOV ...
M. NOV
M.
ar Oct
IM. Nov ..
M. NOY ...
M.
M. NOV .... Jan
I'M. NOV .....
Hept -......
The U.S.
7.670,493
4,074,238
3,837,112 .
1.810,256
Barthenware, brown, not ornamented.
5 per cent.
1 M
Essential oils.
8 per cent
Alabama
380,630
22,996
16,953
Fans.
dar June ..
Ineeda
Arizona .
3,435
8,210
7,374
3.259
Feathers of all kindi, crudo
5% por cont.
5% per cent.
dnes
Next Election.
after 1
100 por cent.
after I M.
after 3 M. Apf .....
. aller
. BILeF
.after
Wednesday
. after
. after
L. after
. after 1 M. No
Firecrackers, all kinds.
Latter
1. after
1. after I
Tuesday Och ....
Thursday, August
Tuesday BePs
L After
Wednesday
L. after I M. NOV ....
u. after
u. after 1 5
Thursday
u. after
Tuesday Oct
Tuesday Lt
216,665
23,486
11,3:58
Monday June .....
tu. after i M. Nov.
Il. after I'M. Nov.
u. after I'ML.
Monday Bept. ........ 804
Tu. after
T'u. after I M. Nov .... Is
Arkansas
57.392
Glass, articles of, cut, engraved, ato.
45 per cent.
Monday Aug ........
Tu. after 1 st.
u. after
l'u. after
Tu. after
Tu. after
Monday
T'u. after I M. NOV ...
T'u. after I M.
Fu. after
79.396
191.485
118,282
1 We
California
50 per cent.
Coloralo ...
13.539
24,813
47,408
116,091
15,491
Gloyes, kid or leather.
44,026
51,296
29.920
Grain.
Horn, ivory and bone.
10c to 200 per bushel.
Connecticut
Dakota .
28,508
6.219
80 per cent.
Delaware ....
17.849
14,016
17,616
9,101
14.148
ron ore ..
The per ton.
1.484
39,975
15.337
4.967
Dist. Columbia.
9,848
Iron in pigs, and sorap iron
Tron and steel outton tles.
1-100 per b.
.Jan ..
L. Jan.,
Florida
17.923
8.436
M. Jan., 'S
36,167
6.446
. Biennially
Georgia
432,204
104,989
25,222
1,327
Japanned ware of all kinds.
o per cent
Idaho ..
3,868
3,861
6.512
128.872
Knives, pen and pocket, and resort
40 per cent.
.50 per cent.
r 1 M.
M. Jan ..
Illinois
436,871
229,467
205,570
Linens ...
.00 to 10 per cent
.. do to do per gallon.
Det ..
NOV.
Dec
Jan.
May
Jan., H.
Jan.
fier i M. Jan ..
831,240
137,281
Molasses
.Jan.
.after 1 M.
Indiana.
110,127
. after 1 M.J
after J
V.Jan.
lowa ..
303,557
103,989
53,507
69,941
56,482
50,872
Oil oloths
.. 10 per cent.
V. NOY.
1. Jan .. 7 .....
of Legislature.
M. Sept .. M
Tu. Jan ..
Wantter
M. Dec.
M. Feb., s
36,819
26,379
per cent
W. Dec ..
Tu. Jan .. 4
Tu after I
W. Jan., 1550
Paints and colors
W.after IN
Tu. Jan.
2 Tu. Jan., M
] Tu. Jan., H.
Tu. after I M. Nov., S
Kansas
206.080
Kentucky
320,571
104,239
61.481
33,503
Paper
Porcelain, stone and crockery ware, ornamente
18 to 20 per cent.
"Tu after 1 M. Jan.
Next Regular Session
W. Jan., M
. W. June.
watter i M. Ja
"I W. after 1
* Tu Jan.
= w.
*1 M.
hafter 1 M. Jan.
Louisiana
206,306
98,111
30,681
29,180
.00 per cent.
1885 *1
196 W. after I M.
16 "2 M. Jan., Bl.
Maine ..
82,130
47,411
72,662
29,790
Porcelain, stone and crockery ware, not ornam't'd, is per cent.
Maryland
90,997
98,934
85,337
49,234
Lc per bushel.
64.973
115.378
Potatoos
Mat.
Jan. 189
Massachusetts.
170,100
870,265
Salt
.. do to Ito per b.
an.
pires,
an.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan. 1855
Dec
Jan.
Hept
Jan.
May
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan
Term Ex-
June 199
Jan. 11990
Jan.
Hept. Th
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
240,319
143,249
130,913
54.723
Bilk, manufactured goods
10 per cent.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Nov
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Michigan
Minnesota
131,535
59,452
39,789
24.349
Bilk, thrown in gum.
80 per cent.
Mississippi
339.938
49.448
18.145
12,975
Missouri
148,588
109,754
79,300
Bode, hydrate or osustio.
355.297
Steel and cogged ingots, not specially provided
o per b.
Present State Governments.
Montana
4,513
6.954
8,022
2,76
for, valued at fo por b., or lem ..
Steel, railway bart, over is bs
.16 per cont.
Nebraska
90,507
28.740
18,265
15,106
IT per ton.
10,378
18,231
4.449
Bugars ....
Timber, bewn and sawed ..
It-ibc to SKo per b.
ham
Nevada.
4,180
44,490
28.206
20 per cent.
New Hampshire
58,037
11.735
New Jersey .
59.214
110,722
160.561
66,383
Tin plates and Taggers tin
lo per b.
). McEnery
New Mexico
14,139
377.460
19.042
Umbrellas and parasols
W. Adams
( Stockley.
537.807
4.317
3.264
ibe to $1 per D.
339.419
Tobacco .+
10 and 60 per cent.
New York.
North Carolina
880,937
69.321
629,809
83,963
15,966
Varnishes .
40 per cont.
GOVERNORS
t G. Porter ..
Republicans in Italie.
Ohio ..
397.496
250.371
242,294
104,315
Vegetables
.10 to 80 per cent.
Villiam B. Bate ....
John L. Baritone ..
Villiam D. Blox
George W. Glick.
Thomas J. Jarvis.
Jacob B. Jackson,
27,091
16,645
17.458
6.149
Wools ..
Sko to tre per D.
Jeremiah M. Rusk
Albe
Grover Cleveland
Lenas F. Moody ...
IVilliam F. Cameron
Henry D. McDaniel.
John M. Hamilton ...
Hamuel D.
Frederick Hoble ...
dammi w. Hale.
George Hondly ...
Hobert E. Pattison
Alfred H. Littlefeld.
John Ireland ...
Hobert M. McLane
George D. Robinson.
Lucius F. Hubbard.
Robert Lowry ..
Thomas T. Crittenden
James W. Dances ..
Hugh S. Thompson
Oregon
George Stoneman.
Buren R. Sherman.
J. Proctor Knott
Josinh W. Begole.
Leon Abbett ..
James B. Grant,
Thomas M. Waller.
Charles
Edward A. O'Neal
Pennsylvania
301,112
446,718
508,477
179.965
olen cloths and other manufactures of wool .. 26 to 40 per cent.
Rhode Island.
10,945
24,657
66.160
15,217
3
3
12
601
South Carolina.
£94,603
64,246
19,698
13,556
Tennessee
94.107
36,082
£3,628
Revenues and Expenditures of the United States.
294.153
Texas
350,317
97,561
30,348
34,909
REVENUES.
Elect-
Utah ...
14,550
11.144
10,212
28.214
4,149
8.945
1882.
1888.
6
9
1
10
11
34
21
Vermont
55.251
28.174
Virginia.
254,099
146,664
63,069
30.418
Customs
$2:0.410.780.26 8214.706,408.98
gress-
meD.
Washington
12,781
6.640
7.900
3,405
Internal Revenue.
148,497.506.45
144.720,808.90
West Virginia
107.578
31,680
28.948
10,653
Public Lands .. .
4.753,140.37
195.901
07,494
37,650
Miscellaneous sources.
81,863,784.21
7.906,864.42
86.510
80,904.851.62
Wisconsin.
1 630
4,011
1.545
1,689
Totals ..
$400,526,250-28 : $308.287.581.16
1.000
42.430
1.20
2.000
49.170
40,400
12.210
45.215
Wyoming .
58.915
09.415
110.200
Ares,
STATE REPRESENTATION, ELECTIONS, ETC.
Mules.
square
2,0-1,700
RATES OF DUTY
EXPENDITURES.
On Leading Articles, as Fixed by Tariff Act of 1883.
1882.
1883.
Civil List.
$18,042,386.42
@72.848,285.78
.....
......
Animals, live ..
.20 per cent.
.20 to 25 per cent.
Foreign Intercourse.
1,307,583.19
2.419,275.24
Books ......
Brandy and other distilled spirits not in bottles.
$2 per gallon.
Navy_Department. ...
15.082,048.20
13.570.494.19
16.281,437.17
.20 per cent.
War Dept., including Hivers, Harbort, etc ..
81,345. 196.96
48.911.382.98
Brick. ....
Butter and cheese.
4e per Th.
Pensions
Buttons
9.746.747.40
68,012,573.64
25 per cent.
Indians
7.202,500.34
(38)
Cabinet ware and household furniture finished
.. 35 per cent.
Miscellaneous ..
34.589.237.50
43.916,461.21 |
STATES.
Carpets .
30 to 40 per cent.
$186,904.282.78 8206.248.006.29
Carringes.
.35 per cent
Interest on Public Debt
71.077,206.79
50,100,131.25
sachuse
Total.
$257,981,480.57 |$266,408,187.64
faine . ...
Wisconsin.
90 per cent.
Total Expenses ...
Kansas-
Kentuck
Marylan
Oregon ...
West
Indiana.
Hooth Carolina
Tennessee.
Vermont
West Virginia
Connecticut
Conne
Michigan ...
Minnesota
Mississ!
Missouri ....
Nebraski ...
North Carolina.
Pennsylvania.
Ithode Island.
New Hampshire
New Ha
New Jersey ...
New York ...
Cement and glue.
Alabama ...
California
Delaware
Florids
Jowa ...
Louisiana
Arkansas
Colorado.
Georgis
Illinois.
Digitized by
55
(Continued from page 16.)
should be devoted to his private affairs, after having served the public so long and faithfully. The monetary panic of 1875, in connection with his losses as surety for some of his friends, again stripped him of nearly all his earthly possessions. But, notwith- standing his misfortune in this particular, he has the higher and better consolation of having justly merited the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens by an active and useful life in their midst for more than thirty years. After a personal acquaint- ance of over twenty years, the writer can cheerfully bear witness that the pioneer lawyer of Ford County in his younger years was a good lawyer, s quaint and entertaining speaker, and at all times a kind and indulgent parent, a friend of the poor and needy, an enterprising, public-spirited citizen, and above all, & steadfast lover of justice and humanity.
In February, 1860, J. B. Burrows, a native of the Empire State, and a graduate of one of the leading colleges and law schools of the State of Pennsylvania, located in Paxton as a law- yer. Being a man of pleasing address, an uncommonly graceful and eloquent speaker, possessing a liberal education, able to write and speak fluently in the French and German languages as well as in the mother tongue, he soon became known as a popular public speaker. His law practice grew rapidly from the start, and in a few months after his arrival he was employed in sev- cral important suits in Ford and adjoining counties." On the 4th day of July, 1860, he delivered to a large and attentive audi- ence, on the grounds where the public school building now stands in Paxton, the first oration ever made on Independence Day in this city, and I doubt if its power and eloquence have ever been surpassed on a similar occasion in the county since then. Soon after this, he was employed by the order of Good Templars as State Lecturer for the State of Illinois, which position he held. until the spring of 1861. From the spring of 1855 until the autumn of 1858, he was editor-in-chief of an independent news- paper published in the city of New Orleans, one side of which was printed in the French language, and the other in the English, and in the Presidential campaign of 1860, supported Bell and Everett for President and Vice President. In that campaign, Mr. Burrows made a number of political speeches at prominent points in the south in their behalf. In the meantime, he had become well acquainted with the political ideas and revolutionary designs entertained by her political leaders and the unanimity with which the masses of her people would support any attempt they might make to dissolve the Union, and hence when the roar of ber hostile guns resounded over the North at the bombardment of Sumter, he at once insisted that a tremendous struggle for nation- al existence was upon us. Soon after this, at the first meeting of the citizens of Paxton and vicinity to raise volunteers held in the schoolhouse (now the Baptist Church), he made an eloquent appeal to his audience to forget past party affiliations, to "sink the partisan in the patriot," and rally as one man to the support of the National flag. In 1861 or 1862, he removed to Bloom- ington, Ill., where he assisted in enlisting some volunteers in that locality, and where he died in 1863.
In the summer of 1860, Kennedy Price, a native of Hagers- town, Md., removed from Palo, Ill., to Paxton, where he entered into copartnership with Henry Barnhouse, an old resident of the latter place, and at the time a Justice of the Peace, under the firm name of Price & Barnhouse, attorneys at law. Mr. Price was a descendant of one of the leading families of his native State. He was well educated in his profession, liberal, jovial and courteous among his friends, and in that sense a true Southern gentleman. In his address to the jury, he was of the fervent, fiery order, to the court he was deliberate and concise. His res- idenco in Paxton was short. A firm believer in the Calhoun doctrine of State rights, he naturally drifted into supporting the Southern Confederacy, and in the fall of 1861 bade adieu to Paxton, and returned to his native place to take charge of the large property interests of his aged widowed mother, where, I am informed, he became a Captain in the Confederate army in 1862. Daniel S. Morse, a native of New Hampshire, and James A. Briggs, a native of Rochester, N. Y., having heard in their Eastern homes that Prospect City, Ford Co., Ill., would soon prove a paradise for young lawyers, formed a copartnership under the firm name of Morse & Briggs, lawyers, and came to that noted city of the " grand prairie" in the summer of 1860, and tendered their services to whomsoever it might concern. Their anticipated rich harvest, however, yielded rather meager returns, and hence their stay was brief. In the latter part of the year 1861, Mr. Morse went to Chicago, and Mr. Briggs to Eureka, Woodford Co., Ill., where he resumed the practice of his pro- fession in partnership with Judge Meek, of that place, and where he still unfolds the mysteries of that ancient science to any who wish his services in that direction.
During the years 1859-60, there strode into Prospect City at odd times an ungainly verdant-looking country lad, measuring fully six feet four and one-half inches in height with broad angu- lar frame, having a large head thickly covered with short cut, black, bushy hair, rather small black eyes, high cheek bones, square prominent chin, wide mouth and swarthy complexion, and unusual size, and whose abrupt manners and speech, attracted the attention of nearly every one, such is an imperfect description of the personal appearance of Martin V. Ross one of the prominent lawyers of the Paxton bar in bygone days. He was born near Greencastle, Ind., and emigrated to East Central Illinois about 1855, where he was mainly engaged as a farm laborer and school teacher until his admission to the bar in 1862. After which for some time he was Assistant Editor of the Ford County Journal, one of the first newspapers published in the county. David Crondall of Champaign City being Editor. In 1864, he associated with himself as a partner in law, E. C. Gray, under
FORD COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
the firm name of Voss & Gray, which continued until the fall of 1865 when Mr. Voss located at Fort Scott, Kan., and where he successfully conducted an extensive law business, mostly in criminal cases, before the District and Supreme Courts of that State, for about two years. He was twice elcctod & mem- ber of the lower house of the Kansas Legislature, and served with much distinction. At the close of his last term, he was elected Judge of the District Court composed of Bourbon and ad- joining counties, which position he held at the time of his death, which occurred in 1870, on the Pacific Slope whither he had gone for his health. In the management of his cases in court, he manifested great tenacity and no little adroitness. Before the jury he urged his clients' cause with much earnestness and vigor in a kind of "rough and ready " style peculiar to himself. Be- fore the court he was deliberate, fearless and self-assured, gener- ally argumentative, though at times quite illogical. In politics he was a zealous radical Republican, and during the late war labored for the cause of the union effectively. His educational soquirements were small, yet by nature he was endowed with physical and mental capacities broad and strong.
Edward C. Gray, the oldest settled lawyer, now in active practice at Ford County bar, Was born and raised in the vicinity of Cleveland, Ohio. His earlier years were spent on the farm, and as a railroader in his native State. When the Southern re- bellion broke out, he shouldered his musket and moved to the front to take a hand in the preservation of the Union. After having served his country faithfully in that memorable struggle until 1864, he received an honorable discharge, and located in Paxton as a partner of Martin V. Voss, in the law practice under the firm name of Voss & Gray. The firm continued until the former went to Fort Scott, Kan., in 1865. Mr. Gray then be- come the resident partner of the firm of Smith & Gray. This partnership was dissolved when Mr. Smith was elected Circuit Judge of the Seventeenth Circuit in 1873. The firm enjoyed an extensive and successful law business in Ford and adjoining counties, as well as in the higher courts of this State. Mr. Gray, soon after Judge Smith's election, associated with himself as & partner, Capt. Z. S. Swan of Champaign, Ill., under the firm name of Gray & Swan, and so continued until the death of the latter at Champaign in 1882, since when he has practiced alone. He was at the December term, 1888, of the Circuit Court, ap- pointed by Hon. O. T. Rems, Presiding Judge, as an associate counsel, with Hon. Thomas T. Tipton of Bloomington, Ill., to defend James Ryan, now under indictment for the murder of Abram Thorpe, in Paxton on the 80th day of September, 1888. His judgement of the law and practice is comprehensive and ac- curate, and in the trial of a cause his opponent need not expect a victory, without confronting every point of merit involved in the case.
John Pollock, the oldest member of the Ford County bar was born in Harrison County, Ohio, in 1817, where he was reared on the farm, and received his education in the common and select schools of his neighborhood. In 1835, he removed with his parents to Logan County, Ohio; here he worked on the farm in the summer season, and taught district school and pursued his preparatory study of the law in the winter season. Soon after his admission to the bar by the Supreme Court of Ohio in 1851, he began the practice of his profession at Bellfontaine. Some years later, he, in company with two others, conducted for two years a private bank in that city, Mr. Pollock acting as attorney and cashier. When the firm dissolved, the business was carried on for two years longer on his own account. Having now been elected Prosecuting Attorney for his county, he gave up the banking business to attend to the duties of his office. In 1865, in com- pany with his son J. E. Pollock, now a prominent lawyer of the Bloomington, Ill., bar, he opened a law office in Winchester, Va., where they enjoyed an extensive practice until the fall of 1866, when the father made a business trip to Illinois, intending to re- turn to Winchester, but in the meantime the Legislature of Vir- ginia had enacted such liberal exemption and stay laws as to render collection of debts tedious and in some cases impossible. This induced him to take up his residence and open an office in Paxton. In 1872, he was elected a member of the Lower House of the Legislature of this State in the district composed of the counties of Livingston and Ford, and as such discharged the sev- eral duties there imposed upon him with that conscientious faith fulness that has ever characterised his action, whether in public or private life. Among other valuable services rendered his con- stituency, especially the people of Ford County, he procured the passage of the law placing McLean and Ford Counties in one judicial ci suit. In 1872, he formed a law partnership with Al. fred Sample, which was dissolved by mutual consent in 1877, and for one year thereafter, the firm of Pollock & MoLean was one of the leading law firms in this county. But now his professional career drew rapidly to its close, his over-taxed nervous system could endure the strain no longer, and its prostration ensued to such an extent that he was compelled to relinquish his law busi- ness entirely and retire to private life. In his practice, he was a careful, painstaking lawyer, always aiming to secure all legal rights of his client in every emergency, while his naturally sym- pathetic disposition impelled him to extra effort in behalf of the poor or unfortunate who entrusted their cases to his management. Alfred Sample was born in Butler County, Ohio, November 27, 1846. He came to Illinois in 1857, lived and labored on the farm until he was sixteen years of age, when he enlisted in Com- pany G, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Illinois Infantry, and fought resolutely for his country until May, 1864. He received severe wounds in both arms and breast in the battle at Resaca, Ga., and on account of which he was discharged in De- cember, 1864. In January, 1865, he entered Eureka College,
where, and at Monmouth College, he pursued a course for four years with a view of the study of law. Afterward taught school a short time. He read law with Col. R. G. Ingersoll at Peoria, Ill., and was admitted to the bar in December, 1870; came immediately to Paxton and formed a partnership with M. H. Cloud, under the firm name of Cloud & Sample, which lasted until the fall of 1872, when the firm of Pollock & Sample was formed, and was dissolved in 1877. In 1872, he was elected State's Atttorney for this county, and was re elected to the same office in 1876, by & large majority. In 1880, he was chosen Elector on the Republican ticket, and cast his vote in the Elect- oral College for James A. Garfield for President, and Chester A. Arthur for Vice President. From the beginning, he has been a remarkably successful lawyer, and has been employed in several of the most important suits ever tried in the county, among which may be mentioned his employment by the railroad and warehouse Commissioners to prosecute the Wabash Company for making unjust discriminations in their rates for carriage of freight between Peoria, Ill., an 1 New York, and between Gilman and New York. By nature adapted to the profession of the law, possessing tact, energy, industry and invincible determination, he allows no cessation of hostilities until he is completely victorious or utterly vanquished. A more extended biography of Mr. Sample appears elsewhere in this work.
Milton H. Cloud, the present Master in Chancery of this county, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, July 24, 1842, came to Illinois in 1850, and settled on a farm in Tazewell Connty, where he lived until he was twenty years old, when he enlisted in the Eighty-sixth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served his county valiantly for three years as color bearer. At the battle of Kenesaw Mountain he received two severe wounds. After the close of his military service he entered Eureka College for a time, then read law at Pekin, Ill , and during the winter of 1866 was a student at the Chicago law school, after which he completed his preparatory study of the law at Metamora, Ill., in the office of R. T. Cassell & Son. HIe was admitted to practice in 1867, and commenced practice at El Paso, Ill .; came to Paxton in January, 1869, and soon acquired a fair practice. In 1871, the partnership of Cloud & Sam- ple was begun and continued until 1872. Mr. Cloud was also State's Attorney for the county during the partnership. For the year 1875, he was City Attorney for the city of Paxton. In 1876, he became a member of the loan and real estate firm of Hanly, Sutton, Cloud & Day, Mr. Cloud being principally en- gaged in the examination of titles, and in this respect is proba- bly as proficient as any attorney in this part of the State. In 1882, he was appointed Master in Chancery for the county by O. T. Reeves, Circuit Judge.
John R. Kinnear, formerly an attorney of Paxton, and now residing in Seattle, W. T., was born July 26, 1843, at West Point, Tippecanoe Co., Ind. He removed with his parents to Kingston, Ross Co., Ohio, in 1844, and thence to Bloomington, Ill., in the fall of 1849, and again to Walnut Grove, Woodford Co., Ill., in the spring of 1850, where his parents still reside ; young Kinnear was reared on the farm. He attended Eureka College, Ill., from 1854 to 1859. In 1859, he entered Knox College at Galesburg, Ill., and remained there until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Company A, Eighty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, August 22, 1862. His regiment was mustered into the service August 27, at Peoria, Ill., and, on September 7, was ordered to Louisville, Ky., and immediately began active service. The regiment, belonging to the Army of the Cumberland has an excellent record for fighting qualities, having been engaged in twenty-two pitched battles, besides numerous skirmishes. Mr. Kinnear was constantly with his regiment, except one month of sickness at Nashville, and kept a daily record of its operations. After having faithfully served his country for four years, lacking two months and twenty-two days, he was mustered out with his regiment at Washington, D. C., June 6, 1865. On his return to his home he was solicited by his comrades to prepare & history of the regiment from his notes, which he did in 1866. How well he performed his work is best shown by the fact that more than 2,000 volumes have been published and sold at $1.50 per volume. Soon after he reached home he began the study of the law in the office of Judge Charles H. Chitty, at Metamora, Ill. After reading two years in the office, he attended the Chicago Law School, during the winter of 1867-68, and located in Pax- ton in March of the latter year. Here he formed a partnership with Hon. C. H. Frew, which was dissolved July 20, 1871 ; he served as City Attorney for the city of Paxton during the years 1869-70-71, and as Master in Chancery for Ford County four years, from August 28, 1878. In January, 1881, he formed a law partnership with John H. Moffett, which lasted until his re- moval to his present home. During his residence in Paxton he successfully conducted a large and lucrative practice, and was engaged in many of the most important suits tried in this county. Among them he was of counsel for Gen. Hendrix, indicted for murder in McLean County, who was acquitted. He was married to Rebecca Means, of Bloomington, Ill., June 2, 1868, and by whom he has two children living-Ritchey and Zeta, aged re- spectively fourteen and seven years.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.